Weighing-machine



(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 1.

P. H. RICHARDS.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

No. 589,298, Patented Aug. 31,1897.

Wdfnesqes [n 0621501" (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet :2. P. H. RICHARDS.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

No. 589,293. Patented Aug. 31,1897.

1N0 Model.) 4 Shets-Sheet 3.

P. H. RICHARDS.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

No. 589.293. Patented Aug. 31,1897.

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(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 4.

F. H. RICHARDS. WEIGHING MACHINE.

No. 589,293. Patented Aug. 31,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT @rrnrE.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

WEIGHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 589,293, dated August31, 1897.

Application filed April 3, 1897. $cria1 No. 630,507. (No model.) I

T 0 all whmn it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States,residingat Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Veighing-Machines,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to weighing machines, the object being to providean improved machine of this character for automatically weighing anddelivering various classes of granular and similar materials.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification,Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved weighingmachine; and Figs.2, 3, and 4: are end ele vations of the same, as seen from the left inFig. 1, and they show said machine in the several positions occupiedthereby during the making and discharging of a load.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

The framework of the machine may be of any suitable character, itconsisting in the present case of the chambered supporting base or bed2, the end frames or columns 3 and 4, which rise therefrom, and thebrackets 5 and 6, extending oppositely from the hopper H, said partsbeing connected together in some usual way, and the hopper Hconstituting a convenient means for delivering the supply of material tobe weighed to the loadreceiver.

The weighing mechanism is composed of a suitable load-receiver and asupporting scalebeam therefor, which parts may be of any convenienttype.

The load-receiver is herein illustrated consisting of a hopper-shapedreceptacle G,l1aving the usual discharge-outlet, the passage of materialfrom which is controlled by a closer, as is customary.

The scale-beam for the load-receiver is designated by B and it isrepresented consisting of a pair of longitudinal arms 7 and 8, which arepivotally mounted on suitable brackets on the end frames 3 and 4: andwhich are joined at the rear by the cylindrical counterweight WV, saidbeam-arms being furnished with the usual pivots at the poising endsthereof, upon which are sustained the usual V-shaped or notchedbearing-plates connected with the load-receiver.

The closer for the load-receiver is designated by L, and it consists ofa substantially flat plate pivoted to the load-receiver, and which, whenshut, is contiguous to the lower edge of said load-receiver, asindicated in Figs. 2 and 3. The closer L is supported by the projectingjournals or pivots 9 and 10, which extend from opposite sides of theloadreceiver and which pass through suitable hubs or other bearings onthe closer.

The means for governing the discharge of the load includes a latch,which may be of any suitable construction and which is designed toengage the closer, or a member connected therewith, as the upright arm12, which is fixed to the closer L and constitutes a part thereof.

The latohfor holding the closer shut is designated by L and is pivotedto the load receiver, the working arm 13 of said latch being shouldered,as at 14, to engage the cooperating arm 12 of the closer, said arm 13being counterweighted to throw it into engagement with the arm 12.

My present invention com prehends the provision of suitable means fortilting the loadreceiver simultaneously with the opening of the closer,whereby the material will be dislodged from the sides of theload-receiver and whereby a suitable stop will be rendered effective forlooking a stream-controller or stream-controllers against action duringthe discharge of a load, and for thus tilting the load-receiver thecloser L will be preferably connected with a suitable resistance member,such as the framework, whereby when the latch is tripped the closer willbe opened and the load-receiver will be simultaneously tilted.

The closer L is represented having pivoted to its under side theconnecting-link 15, the latter being similarly attached to the base 2 orthe arm 16 thereon.

Fig. 2 illustrates the load-receiver at the limit of its upstroke. Onthe supply of material to and when the loadreceiver has received acertain percentage of the predetermined load it will descend, the supplybeing progressively reduced as the load-receiver approaches thepoising-line, at which time the passage of material to saidload-receiver is instantly stopped and the latch L is tripped bysuitable instrumentalities, as will hereinafter appear. On the trippingof the latch L it will be disengaged from the arm 12 of the closer,whereby the latter will be forced open by the pressure of the materialin the load-receiver acting thereagainst, and as the closer opens it isoperable for forcibly tilting the load-receiver to the positionindicated in Fig. 4, and for the purpose of facilitating this action thecenter of motion of the load-receiver will be at a point very near theupper end thereof. lVhen the material has passed from the closer or asuitable regulator thereon, as R, the closer can be returned to itsnormal or shut position by the righting of the load-receiver.

The regulator R consists of an angular longitudinal plate, the portion17 of which is suitably fastened to the under side of the load-receiver.On the discharge of the load it will be directed against the front wall2" of the chambered base 2 and will act against the portion 17 of theregulator with sufficient pressure to prevent the intermediate shuttingof the closer or until all of the material has passed from the dischargeedge thereof.

The closer L has near its discharge edge the angular longitudinal ridgeor rib 18, which when said closer is shut is substantially in contactwith the lower front edge of the loadreceiver, as shown in Fig. 2,whereby a close joint is formed at this part to prevent leakage of thematerial.

A longitudinal guard is shown at 19, consisting of a curved platefastened to the front part of the load-receiver, near the lower edgethereof and extending below the same, so that in case any m at erialshould work through the joint between the load-receiver and the angularridge 18, as might be the case with fluffy or light materials, theescape thereof will be prevented by the curved guard 19. For preventingthe opening of the closer L for too great a distance a stop, in the formof a pin projecting from the load-receiver, is shown at 20, it beingdisposed in the path of movement of the arm 12, and against which saidarm is adapted to abut when the closer is opened the requisite distance.

My present invention includes as a part thereof two stream-controllers,consisting, respectively, of the reciprocatory hopper 25, which movesthrough a vertical path, and the valve 26, which is pivotally connectedwith the hopper H for movement therewith and which is actuated thereby,the hopper being controlled by the weighing mechanism.

The reciprocatory hopper 25, which is in line with the stationary hopperII, has the uprigh 27 thereon, which is connected by a guide-link 26with said hopper II.

The valve 26, which is reciprocatory beneath the mouth or outlet of themovable hopper 25, has the arms 29 and 30 at each end thereof, which aresuspended from suitable pivots on the hopper 25.

A transverse rock-shaftis shown at supported by suitable brackets orother bearings on the hopper H, said shaft being connected, respectively,with the reciproeat-ory hopper 25 and the valve 26, whereby as thehopper descends and ascends the valve can be closed or opened, as willbe apparent. The shaft 35 has near one end thereof theoppositelyprojecting crank-arm 36 and 37,the1'irst-mentioned beingpivoted to the lug 38 011 the upper end of the hopper 25, and thecrank-arm 37 being connected with the corresponding crank-arm 39 on thevalve 26 by the connecting-link 40.

It will be evident that as the hopper 25 drops from its uppermostposition (shown in Fig. 2) the two crank-arms 36 and 37 will beoppositely rocked,whercby the link 40 and the crank-arm 39 will pull thevalve 26 shut,in correspondence with the movement of said hopper, sothat said valve can progressively reduce and subsequently cut off thestream from said hopper. The opposite walls 5 and 4:6 of the hopper aremade inclined or sloping, as at and 46', respectively, so that theweight of the material thereagainst will aid in depressing the hopper.

It will be understood that the action of the reciprocatory hopper 25 iscontrolled by the weighing mechanism, a suitable connection between saidparts being provided, and the longitudinal rod 47 is illustrated forthis purpose, said rod being pivoted at its upper end to the crank-arm36 and having a bifurcation t8 at its lower end for embracing a suitableprojection, as the antifriction-roll 49, at the outer end of theauxiliary beam B.

The auxiliary beam B consists of a counterweighted lever pivoted at 50,near the poising end of the beam-arm 7, the weight \V of said auxiliarybeam being furnished with the projecting pin 51, which normally restsupon the main weight XV, whereby as the load-receiver G descends theinner end of the auxiliary beam B will move therewith and will therebylimit the downward movement of the hopper 25, and consequently theclosure of the valve 26. The return movement of the auxiliary beam Bwith the main beam B will be blocked, as will hereinafter appear, butwhen it is released it will drop, and in so doing will transmit anupward thrust to the rod 47 for raising the hopper 25 and for alsoopening the valve 26.

In connection with the load receiver G means will be employed forblocking the action of the stream-controller or hopper 25,and

IIC

per end. The arm 61 has at its outer end the transverse portion 62,having the curved face 63, which is concentric with the axis of movementof the rock-shaft 35, and said arm 61 also has the curved portion 64,provided with the curved face 65.

In Fig. 2 the antifrictionroll 60 is represented in contact with thecurved face 63, whereby the arm 61 will block or prevent theload-receiver G from tilting prematurely. As the hopper andload-receiver G descend the antifriction-roll 61 will be caused to ridealong the curved face 63 until it reaches a point below the same, asrepresented in Fig. 3, so that when the latch L is tripped and thecloser L is opened the load-receiver is tilted. Immediately on thetilting of the load-receiver the antifriction-roll 60 will be carriedinto contact with the curved face 65 to block or prevent retractivemovement of the stop-arm 61, and consequently of the hopper 25 and thevalve 26. \Vhen the load-receiver G rights itself in the mannerhereinbefore specified, the roll 60 will pass clear of the curved face65, whereby the spent 25 and valve 26 can be returned to their initialpositions.

It will be evident that when the arm 60 is swung under the cooperatingarm 61 on the discharge of a load and when a certain portion of thematerial has left the load-receiver it will rise by reason of thedropping of the counterweight WV but the return movement ofthe'auxiliary beam B will be prevented by reason of its connection withthe shaft 35, which is locked by the stop 60. lVhen the stop 61 isreleased, as described, the auxiliary beam 13 will be also released andcan promptly return to its normal position and in so doing will thrustthe rod 47 upward for simultaneously elevating the hopper 25 and openingthe valve 26.

For the purpose of arresting the advancing movement of the twostream-controllers 25 and 26, respectively, to permit the passage of adrip-stream to the load-receiver a suitable stop will be employed, suchstop being mounted on the arm 8 of the scale-beam l3, and consisting ofthe by-pass 7 t of ordinary construction, which is disposed in the pathof movement of the depending rod 71 on the transverse rock-shaft Theby-pass 7 0 consists of a eounterweighted lever pivoted to the beam-arm8, the weighted arm thereof resting on the pin 72 of said beam.

At the commencement of the poising period, as shown in Fig. 3, the rod71 will abut against the upright arm 7 3 of the by-pass to thereby holdthe two stream-controllers to permit the drip-stream to enter theload-receiver. On the descent of the loadreceiver below thepoising-line, indicating the completion of a load, the by-pass will passout of contact with the rod 71, thereby releasing saidstream-controllers, so that the hopper 25 can promptly drop for closingthe valve 26, and it will be evident that as the valve closes materialwill accumulate in the hopper sufficiently so that at the last part ofits operation the valve will be closed quickly. The rod 47 alsoconstitutes a tripper for the closer-latch L, the leg of the bifurcationa8 bein g extended downward beyond the complementary leg thereof,whereby on the eompletion of the load said leg will be caused to impingeagainst the arm 76 of the latch to raise the opposite arm 13 thereof,whereby the latter will be disengaged from the arm 12 of the closer.\Vhen this last-mentioned action takes place, the closer L will be freedof all restraint and can be forced open by the weight of the material inthe load-receiver.

The operation of the hereinbefore-described machine, briefly stated, isas follows: Fig. 2 represents the positions occupied by the respectiveparts at the commencement of op eration, the valve 26 being wide openand the reciprocatory hopper 25 being at the limit of its upstroke andthe closer L being shut and held in such position by the latch L, whichengages the arm 12 of said closer, so that the supply-stream will flowfrom the hopper II and will pass through the hopper 25 and from thenceinto the load-receiver G. hen a certain proportion of the load has beenreceived, the load-receiver, with the poising sides of the beam 13 andauxiliary beam 13, will descend, whereby the projection 49 on theauxiliary beam, by moving away from the rod 47, will permit the hopper25 to drop, this movement being assisted by the weight of material insaid hopper. As the hopper thus drops the crank-arm 36 will be drawndownward and the shaft 35 rocked, the crank-arm 37 being moved in adirection opposite to that of the crank-arm 36 or elevated, whereby it,by reason of its connection through the link a0 with the crank-arm 39,will close the valve 26. At the commencement of the poising period, asshown in Fig. 3, the rod 71 will abut against the upright arm 73 of thebypass stop 70 on the scale-beam B, whereby the further movement of thehopper 25 and the valve 26 is interrupted to permit a reduced stream topass from said hopper into the load receiver G. When this reduced streamcompletes the load, the bypass stop 70 will descend below the arm 71,thereby releasing the latter, and consequently the two streamcontrollers25 and 26, whereby the first mentioned can drop at a rapid rate of speedto close the valve 26 for cutting off the supply. On the final action ofsaid streamcontrollers the rod 4-7 will be thrust downward, with the leg7 5 of its bifurcation 48 into contact with the latch-arm 7 6 forraising the eounterweighted arm 13 of said latch. On this action takingplace the closer will be freed of all restraint and can be forced open.As the closer opens it will tilt the load-receiver G, and when all thematerial has passed from the regulator R the closer L can be shut by therighting of the load-receiver, after which the other parts of themachine will re- IIO sume their initial positions and the operation willbe repeated.

Ilaving described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination, withweighing mechanism including a load-receiver provided with a closerconnected with the framework, of supply mechanism for the load-receiver;a latch in position normally to hold the closer shut; and a tripper forsaid latch, connected with the supply mechanism.

'2. The combination, with a load-receiver and its scale-beam having aprojection, of a closer connected with the load-receiver and with theframework; a latch in position to hold the closer normally againstmovement; supply mechanism; a rod connected with the supply mechanismand having a bifurcation at its lower end embracing said projection, oneof the legs of the bifurcation being extended downward to form a tripperfor the latch.

3. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a load-receiverprovided with a closer connected with the framework, whereby when thecloser is opened the loadrcceiver will be caused to tilt; of a latch inposition normally to hold the closer shut; a tripper for the latch;supply mechanism; a stop cooperative with the supply mechanism; and acooperating stop secured to the loadreceiver, to be thrown under thefirst-mentioned stop when the load-receiver is tilted.

at. The combination, with weighing mechanism including a load-receiverhaving a closer connected with the framework, whereby when the closer isopened the load-receiver will be caused to tilt, said closer having arigid arm; of a latch mounted on the load-receiver and adapted to engagesaid arm; and a stop on the load-receiver, disposed in the path ofmovement of said arm and adapted to prevent the closer from opening toofar.

5. The combination, with a load-receiver having a discharge-outlet; of acloser for the discharge-outlet, connected with the loadreceiver andhaving a longitudinal ridge near its discharge edge and on the upperside thereof, which, when the closer is shut, is in con- 7. Thecombination, with a scale-beam and with a load-receiver, of areeiprocatory hop per having a valve connected thereto; a rockshaftcarried by a stationary part and connected, respectively, with thehopper and valve; and a connection between the scalebeam and the valve.

8. The combination, with a load-receiver and a scale-beam, of areeiprocatory hopper having a valve; a rock-shaft carried by astationary part and having a pair of oppositelydisposed crank-armsconnected, respectively, with the hopper and the valve, and having athird crank-arm; and a connector between said third crank-arm and thescale-beam.

9. The combination, with weighing mechanism embodying a load-receiver,of a reciproeatory hopper; a valve; a transverse rockshaft havingoppositely-disposed arms, one of which is connected with said hopper; alink connected with the other arm and also with the valve; andconnections between said rock-shaft and the weighing mechanism.

10. The combination, with weighing mechanism embodying a load-receiverhaving a closer, of means operable on the opening of the closer fortilting said load-receiver; a stream-controller; a stop-arm connectedwith the stream-controller and having a transverse portion; and acooperating stop-arm having an auxiliary stop adapted to ride along aface of said transverse portion.

11. The combination, with weighing mechanism embodying a load-receiverprovided with a closer, of means operable on the opening of the closerfor tilting said load-receiver; a stream-controller having a stop-armprovided with a transverse portion at one end and having a curved faceadjacent thereto; and a cooperating stop-arm 011 the load-receiver,having an auxiliary stop adapted to run in contact with a face of saidtransverse portion and to also run in contact with said curved face whenthe load-receiver is tilted.

12. The combination, with weighing mechanism embodying a load-receiverprovided with a closer, of means operable on the openin g of the closerfor tilting said load-receiver; a reeiprocatory hopper; a valve carriedby and reeiprocatory with said hopper; a transverse rock-shaftconnected, respectivelynvith the reeiprocatory hopper and valve; astoparm on said rock-shaft; and a cooperating stop-arm connected withthe load-receiver.

FRANCIS ll. RICHARDS.

lVitnesses:

F. N. Otmsn, ANDREW FERGUSON.

